Immediate-release oral proton pump inhibitors: Panacea or a flash in the pan?

Effects of exogenous thymosin β4 on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury and fibrosis

The present study investigated the effects of exogenous thymosin β4 (TB4) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury and fibrosis in rodent animals. Results showed that both in mice and rats CCl₄ rendered significant increases in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, hepatic malondialdehyde formation, decreases in antioxidants including superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and up-regulated expressions of transforming growth factor-β1, α-smooth muscle actin, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in the liver tissues. Hydroxyproline contents in the rat livers were increased by CCl₄. Histopathological examinations indicated that CCl₄ induced extensive necrosis in mice livers and pseudo-lobule formations, collagen deposition in rats livers. However, all these changes in mice and rats were significantly attenuated by exogenous TB4 treatment. Furthermore, up-regulations of nuclear factor-κB p65 protein expression by CCl₄ treatment in mice and rats livers were also remarkably reduced by exogenous TB4 administration. Taken together, findings in this study suggested that exogenous TB4 might prevent CCl₄-induced acute liver injury and subsequent fibrosis through alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation.

Selective biliary cannulation techniques for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures and prevention of post- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis

Numerous endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) techniques have been reported to achieve selective biliary cannulation success. For standard biliary cannulation procedures, the wire-guided cannulation technique has been reported to reduce the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and increase the biliary cannulation success rate, although conflicting reports exist. The pancreatic or double-guidewire technique and several precut techniques have been reported as useful techniques in difficult biliary cannulation cases. Although ERCP is a useful endoscopic procedure, the risk of adverse events, particularly post-ERCP pancreatitis, is inevitable. Previous studies and analyses have revealed the risk factors for PEP. The efficacy of prophylactic pancreatic duct stent placement and the administration of rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for preventing PEP has also been reported. Herein, we reviewed reports in the literature regarding the current status of selective biliary cannulation techniques and PEP prevention.